The New York Jets are known to be the first AFL team to defeat a NFL team to win the Super Bowl. They did this in 1968 when they beat the NFL team Baltimore Colts 16-7. Incidentally, this was the first time it was called the Super Bowl. Since then, the Jets have been unable to win any more Super Bowl titles.

They have won other championships though. They won the AFL East championship twice, in 1968 and 1969. They also won the AFC East Championship twice, in 1998 and 2002. Apart from these, they have not won any other major league titles.

The Joe Namath Era

For the New York Jets, the years 1965 to 1969 were the best years yet. Under head coach Weeb Ewbank, they drafted quarterback Joe Namath in 1965 after which the team became very successful and popular. Namath went on to become the first quarterback to pass for 4000 yards in a season. Namath led them to win the AFL Championship defeating the Oakland Raiders 27-23. They went on to win the Super Bowl the same year. After that year, Namath was plagued with injuries and so was unable to play in his full form. A little later he left the Jets and played for the Los Angeles Rams for only four games before he retired from professional football. For his contribution especially in 1969, he was considered an icon like football had not seen before.

The New York Jets are currently owned by Robert Wood Johnson IV. Head Coach is Eric Mangini who joined in 2006.

The Jets retired three of their jersey numbers, Joe Namath 12, Joe Klecko 73 and Don Maynard 13. Number 90 worn by Dennis Byrd, though not officially retired, has not been worn since he had to end his career due to an injury in 1992.

The home stadium of the Jets when they started off as the Titans was the Polo Grounds where they played from 1960 to 1963. After Werblin took over with Leon Hess, they moved to the Shea Stadium where they played from 1964 till 1983. They then moved to the Giants Stadium, also known as The Meadowlands in 1984, where they currently play all their home games. This stadium is shared with the New York Giants.